Russell, husband ofTaylor Armstrong, was found hanging in his bedroom on Mulholland Drive. Sources tell TMZ the L.A. City Fire Department arrived at Russell’s home on Monday night and pronounced him dead at 8:16 PM.

Authorities are saying they did not find a suicide note. This tragedy comes less than a month after Taylor filed for divorce alleging physical and verbal abuse. After Taylor revealed her abuse allegations, it was discovered that other exes of Russell (an ex-wife and an ex-girlfriend) had also alleged physical abuse and had filed restraining orders against him in the past. Russell also had other legal issues, including bankruptcy and several lawsuits.

Russell and Taylor have a 5-year-old daughter – Kennedy. Russell is survived by other children as well. Russell was 47-years-old. We will bring you more news once it becomes available.

THOUGHTS?

UPDATE – Russell had been having a hard time dealing with his past issues becoming public as earlier this year, he had his attorney contact us about taking down a report we did about his past legal issues.

UPDATE #2 – RadarOnline is reporting Taylor has been “hysterical” since finding out about Russell’s suicide last night. Taylor “has been up all night. She is hysterical, and can barely speak. She has no idea why Russell would do this. She doesn’t know how she is going to be able to tell her daughter, Kennedy,” a source close to the situation reveals.

UPDATE #3 – Russell’s attorney tells TMZ Russell was at his wits end over his impending divorce from Taylor in addition to his mounting financial problems in the days leading to his death. Russell’s lawyer Ronald Richards states, “I feel bad because his credit cards weren’t working … He had tremendous financial problems.” Richard adds that even if Russell has a will, he doesn’t have any assets.

With just three weeks until the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 2 premiere, we are now bringing you the official cast photos and bios of the housewives!

As reported, two new ladies were added to the cast this year including professional trouble makerBrandi Glanville and party planner Dana Wilkey.

So what can we expect from each of the cast members this season? Hint – drama! But while each of the ladies have their share of drama, they also know how to have fun in true Beverly Hills style.

With trips to Hawaii, Vegas and Vail, jaw-dropping parties and shopping sprees on Rodeo Drive – “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” do not disappoint. Below are the cast photos, bios and what to expect from the housewives this season!

CLICK THE CONTINUE READING BUTTON TO SEE ALL THE PHOTOS, BIOS & WHAT TO EXPECT!

While Russell, 47, admitted to pushing Taylor, 40, in the heat of their arguments, the current issue of the National Enquirer reports the physical abuse Taylor experienced was much more brutal — once leaving her with a dislocated jaw and almost blinding her in one eye.

“Taylor and Russell’s on-air arguments were well-documented, but behind the scenes the situation was far worse,” a show insider reveals stating that when producers approached her about revealing the dramatic details on camera, she suddenly “clammed up” because she was terrified of how Russell would react.

The mag reports that Taylor, who witness physical abuse in her home in Oklahoma as a child, finally decided to come clean for the sake of her 5-year-old daughter Kennedy.

“She was finally done being ashamed for a problem that is so near to her heart,” noted the source. “She told her co-stars that during a Super Bowl party, Russell dislocated her jaw and tried to cover it up. Taylor said he wouldn’t even allow her to seek treatment for the injury right away.”

The magazine states that at the final “Housewives” taping for the new season, Taylor shocked her castmates when she showed up with a black eye at Lisa Vanderpumps SUR restaurant in west Hollywood.

“Taylor had on a lot of make-up, but she revealed to the other women that Russell had hit her in the right eye with a closed fist several days earlier,” claimed the source adding that Taylor was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had a steel plate inserted during an operation to save her eye.

“Taylor has wanted to end the marriage for some time, and the black eye pushed her over the edge and prompted her to file for divorce,” the source added.

A bombshell report came out last week which revealed two of Russell’s exes (an ex-wife and an ex-girlfriend) also accused him of physical abuse. In fact, both exes were able to get restraining orders against him.

The above photo is one of the last photos taken of the couple. It was taken on June 5 and as you can see Taylor has on shades in the pic. In looking at more press photos, Taylor attended another event on June 4 with Russell during which she also wore shades.

As it turns out, Taylor is not the first woman to accuse Russell of physical abuse. In fact two of his exes (an ex-girlfriend and an ex-wife) had to get restraining orders against him, and in 1997, he pled guilty to battery.

According to a new bombshell report by RadarOnline, Russell was married to ex-wife Barbara Armstrong in 1997 and separated shortly after their son Aiden was born. In court documents obtained, Barbara alleges that Russell beat her when she was six months pregnant: “Russell threw me to the ground and slapped me across the face….the police were called to Russell’s and my residence during our marriage because Russell hit me, blackened my eyes, kicked me in the back, threw crystal drinking glasses at me, and spit on me.”

In the sworn declaration given in late 1997, Barbara states Russell: “Pleaded guilty to battery and said that he understood that he had to go to an anger management program. That was the first anger management program that Russell was ordered to attend.”

The allegations get even worse as Barbara ultimately divorced Russell and remarried. Russell however continued to see his son Aiden every other weekend. However on August 6, 2004, Barbara states in her declaration that she received a phone call from Russell’s then-girlfriend, Claudia Haro, who told her she “saw Russell slap Aiden across the face, very hard. This slap was so hard that Ms. Haro heard it across the room. Ms. Haro has seen and heard Russell slap Aiden’s face very hard on other occasions.”

This led Barbara to get a restraining order against Russell and request that an off-duty police officer monitor visitation with their son, Aiden.

And in a different sworn declaration by Russell’s then girlfriend Claudia, she also stated that Russell hit her. After accusing Claudia of sleeping with an ex-boyfriend, she alleges Russell “hit me in the face so hard that my neck snapped back….I got out of Russell’s car and dialed 911. However, I was put on hold. I was standing next to Russell’s car with my cell phone in my hand when he walked around the car, pulled my cell phone out of my hand and he broke it by pulling the top part of my flip phone off. Russell then grabbed both of my wrists so hard that it hurt.”

When contacted by RadarOnline, Russell’s lawyer gave the following statement – “Russell Armstrong is not convicted of any offenses. He categorically denies the seven-year-old allegations from the family law proceeding.”

Wowzers. RadarOnline is also reporting Taylor’s abuse claims against Russell will be addressed on the upcoming season of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. “Russell didn’t want the specific incidents discussed on the show, and it wasn’t. However, Taylor strongly hints at the physical abuse, along with the emotional abuse. Russell doesn’t want to be perceived as a monster,” revealed a Bravo insider.

The insider adds that Taylor “never called the police on Russell after a fight, which she says would turn violent at times, because she thought it was her fault. Taylor was in denial, which is very typical when a woman is in that situation.”

Photo credit: FayesVision/WENN.com

TELL US – THOUGHTS ON THE LATEST REPORT ABOUT RUSSELL? FEEL BAD FOR TAYLORYET?

Two weeks after filing for divorce and just days after revealing she endured physical abuse in her marriage, Taylor is now being sued alongside her estranged husbandRussell Armstrong for $1.5 million in an alleged internet scam.

In the lawsuit filed Friday in L.A. Superior Court, MyMedicalRecords.com alleges the two pocketed more than $1 million from people by misleading them into thinking they were investing in the company.

The suit claims Taylor and Russell, who is described as a venture capitalist, "successfully and secretly" funneled money away from MMR and into their own pockets.

The company is also accusing the duo, whose sketchy past was unveiled earlier this year, of misusing the funds to "live a lavish lifestyle" including paying for interior decorating on their mansion, and investing in a fancy restaurant with actress Eva Longoria.

Taylor has yet to comment on the lawsuit while Russell's attorney claims MMR is struggling economically and describes the lawsuit as "groundless" and a "shakedown."

About Taylor’s impending divorce, Kyle tells People,”She’s going to pull through. She’s a beautiful girl, she’s a smart girl; she’ll get through it.” Kyle has been trying to take her cast mate’s mind off of the currents situation with fun distractions like a recent beach day for the pals and their daughters. Commenting on Taylor and Russell’s five-year-old daughter Kennedy, Kyle continues,”Kennedy’s doing well. She’s doing great. She’s kind of oblivious to what’s going on.”

As for the long-term, Kyle believes that her friend will make it through this a stronger person. And as for Kyle, she’s just doing what any good girlfriend would do. She says, “I’ve seen her a lot lately. I love Taylor, and I know she’s going through a hard time right now. I’m just being there as a friend.”

Kyle is about to get a lot busier as well. RadarOnline reports she is returning to her acting roots, and I for one, was a HUGE fan of her in Disney’s frightening (well frightening for Disney) Watcher in the Woods. Kyle will be starring in an upcoming Lifetime movie entitled Deadly Sibling Rivalry. Should her sister Kim Richards (the bigger of the two as far as child stars go…need I remind you of the awesomeness of the Witch Mountain movies?) watch her back? “Don’t think too much into the title,” jokes Kyle.

Also on the horizon for Kyle is a handbag line and a book, a la niece Paris Hilton. However, nearest and dearest to Kyle’s heart is the housewives franchise. She is very excited about the upcoming season, despite ending on a sour note with some of her cast mates. Kyle admits, “The reunion was absolutely torture: It’s absolutely torture because you see things that the girls are saying that you never knew they said about you, and all of a sudden you’re like, ‘Wait a minute! I thought that we were friends? I thought we were OK?’” Nevertheless, it’s her favorite business venture.

And just because it’s too cute/strange not to mention, Kyle’s precious toddler Portia, with hottie husband Mauricio Umansky, is the newest member of the Twitterverse. You can follow Kyle’s youngest daughter as she spouts sweet sentiments such as “Dear God, I love u in the morning like a diamond ring.” A collective “awww” please!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF KYLE’S NEW ACTING CAREER? WILL YOU BE FOLLOWING PORTIA ON TWITTER?

Taylor, 40, makes the shocking revelations in an all new interview with PEOPLE magazine. While all that talk about an amicable split came about after Taylor filed for divorce following six years of marriage, she is now telling a darker tale of her relationship’s demise.

“I felt like I was dying inside,” she says. “Now, there’s some sense of peace.” Taylor claims Russell was both verbally and physically abusive, with name-calling, hair pulling, and shoving being a staple of their marriage. She also alleges Russell threw things at her when enraged. As a child of domestic abuse, Taylor was an advocate for battered women, and her efforts were highlighted on the first season.

Taylor reveals, “I’m mad at myself for tolerating things I should not have tolerated from the first moment. Allowing this to happen in my own relationship was something I felt very ashamed of.”

After several months of counseling, Taylor realized she needed a better environment for the couple’s five-year-old daughter Kennedy and decided to end the marriage, adding the decision was a difficult one. “When I knew the filing had gone through, I just started to cry,” she says. “We tried hard to fix our marriage, but it wasn’t healthy.”

For his part, Russell, 47, admits, “Did I push her? Yes, maybe things happened in the heat of the moment, but it was during a time in our lives that was not characteristic of who we were. This show has literally pushed us to the limit.” Russell, however, denies ever pulling his wife’s hair.

The viewers of the reality hit will watch the couple’s marriage implode on the upcoming season which premieres September 5 on Bravo.